Gerald David Ruth

Dr. Gerald D. Ruth, 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 15th, 2022.

He was born in 1936 in Buffalo, New York. As a graduate student in his 20s, he left Buffalo for his education at Indiana University, but his foundational experiences at the Buffalo Museum of Science never left him.

For 50 years, Dr. Ruth was a professor of Earth and Space Sciences at Indiana University Southeast, from its very first days in Jeffersonville, IN to its current home in New Albany, IN.

He was proud to be the IUS Men’s Tennis coach throughout the 1970s, and his 1973-74 group was the first undefeated varsity athletic team at IUS.

He will be fondly remembered for bringing joy to people on many cloudless nights at the IUS observatories he helped establish. His love for astronomy was contagious, inspiring many students and members of the community.

Through the IU Foundation, he set up an endowed scholarship at the IU School of Optometry to honor local optometrist Dr. James D. Hurt, whom he credits with saving his eyesight.

Since retiring in 2015, Dr. Ruth enjoyed writing about his favorite subjects in the books Earth Verses Space and Cruising Our World.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Florence Ruth, originally of Buffalo, New York.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ellen Ruth, his two sons, David Ruth (Kristen Lutes) and Jonathan Ruth (Carrie Drane Ruth), and granddaughter, Camellia Ruth.

Donations in memory of Dr. Ruth may be made to the IU School of Optometry.

Funeral Services for Dr. Gerald D. Ruth will be held at 12 PM on Monday, November 21, 2022, at Scott Funeral Home, 2515 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville, IN. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2022, from 2 PM to 5 PM and prior to the service beginning at 11 AM. Burial at Hillcrest Cemetery, Floyds Knobs, Indiana, will follow the service.

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